A Post reporter dressed as Winnie the Pooh discovered that breaking into the cliquey ranks of territorial Times Square costumed characters is harder than making it onto Broadway.

Pooh was shunned by his cartoon colleagues, threatened by equally territorial Theater District security, and jeered at by pedestrians suspicious of the creatures after several of them were recently busted for creepy and violent behavior.

When Pooh set up in front of the Toys ‘R’ Us on Broadway at 44th Street with his “Hunny” tip jar, a group of other characters immediately began eyeing the newcomer with suspicion.

The costumed crew — two Elmos, a Cookie Monster and a Mickey and Minnie Mouse — stared down our reporter and spoke among each other in hushed tones, huddling together before dispatching Minnie as a messenger.

“There aren’t enough [tourists] here for all of us. You have to leave, OK?” Minnie said. “Try across the street. We are too many, you know?”

Another Pooh ignored him, and an Elmo, Alvin the Chipmunk and Hello Kitty said they didn’t speak English.

One Cookie Monster poked Pooh in the face with his mitt and said sarcastically, “Good costume, man.”

Pooh also got no love from the Times Square Alliance security guards who patrol the area.

“Where is your buddy, that jerk, [Cookie Monster]? I know what he did. If it was my kid, I would have tackled you guys,” one guard said as the reporter was suiting up.

He was referring to last week’s bust of a Cookie Monster poser for allegedly pushing a 2-year-old to the ground over a tip dispute with the boy’s mom.

“I got a cookie for him,’’ the guard hissed. “Gonna jam it up his crack if he touches any more kids. Don’t let me catch you touching any kids.”

Most people on the street were friendly. But several passers-by heckled Pooh, yelling, “Hey, don’t hit any kids!” and “Stop hitting kids!”

The increased scrutiny follows the Cookie Monster incident — as well as the bust of a Super Mario in December for alleged groping and a Spider-Man arrested in February for assault.

One Spider-Man warned Pooh, “Don’t be greedy. Don’t be crazy.” “The police are watching us a lot more,” the costumed man warned. I’m just telling you this because this is your first day,” he said. If someone doesn’t tip you, just say, ‘Have a nice day’ and walk away.”

Spider-Man also offered tips on how to make cash. For one thing, he said, Pooh’s honey pot was no good — since holding it makes it harder to scoop up kids.

The insinuation was that you want to pick up the child so the parent takes a picture — that way, you can barter for a tip.

“Just pick them up and their moms will take a picture,” he said.

On the bright side, the kids loved Pooh. He made $45 during the seven-hour shift — more than $6.40 an hour.